Cool invention by Benjamin Franklin

Basvarken · February 13, 2016, 02:24:12 AM

Never heard of these before.
Glass Harmonica invented bij Benjamin Franklin in 1761

From Wikipedia:
"In Franklin's treadle-operated version, 37 bowls were mounted horizontally on an iron spindle. The whole spindle turned by means of a foot pedal. The sound was produced by touching the rims of the bowls with water moistened fingers. Rims were painted different colors according to the pitch of the note: A (dark blue), B (purple), C (red), D (orange), E (yellow), F (green), G (blue), and accidentals were marked in white.[11] With the Franklin design, it is possible to play ten glasses simultaneously if desired, a technique that is very difficult if not impossible to execute using upright goblets. Franklin also advocated the use of a small amount of powdered chalk on the fingers, which under some acidic water conditions helped produce a clear tone."

gweimer · February 13, 2016, 04:28:02 AM

That is so cool!

amptech · February 13, 2016, 06:55:07 AM

Remarkable!

Dave W · February 13, 2016, 03:51:48 PM

Very cool, but a bit unwieldy to take to blues jams.

Highlander · February 13, 2016, 05:15:40 PM

I'll drink to that...!

Dave W · February 13, 2016, 05:58:46 PM

Ben showed up at a blues jam with one of this and was never invited back.

gweimer · February 13, 2016, 06:59:45 PM

Quote from: Dave W on February 13, 2016, 05:58:46 PM
Ben showed up at a blues jam with one of this and was never invited back.

Thus establishing a tradition for harp players in the generations to come...

gearHed289 · February 15, 2016, 09:13:58 AM

I want one!

drbassman · February 21, 2016, 10:10:38 AM

This instrument was the centerpiece of a PBS Sherlock Holmes mystery recently. The lady playing it went insane. Too complicated to spell it out here, but it had to do with chemicals leaching out if the poorly made glass. Weird!

drbassman · February 21, 2016, 10:17:34 AM

Oops, it was a film, not PBS. "Mr. Holmes" is about Holmes at 90 and trying to solve an unsolved case. A good flick imho.

uwe · February 26, 2016, 01:06:24 PM

I believe he went into the wrong direction for his invention to win mass appeal ...

"With the Franklin design, it is possible to ~~play~~ ...

drink!!!

... ten glasses simultaneously if desired, a technique that is very difficult if not impossible to execute using upright goblets."

A promising invention, yet ultimately misguided.

Has anybody called David Gilmour yet?

the mojo hobo · February 29, 2016, 06:34:13 PM

Quote from: uwe on February 26, 2016, 01:06:24 PM

A promising invention, yet ultimately misguided.

Has anybody called David Gilmour yet?

Now that is awesome.

4stringer77 · March 02, 2016, 09:01:02 AM

Here's another strange musical instrument. Not the sound I'd expect from a bass slapped by marbles.
http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2016/03/this-ludicrous-new-instrument-makes-music-with-2000-marbles/

nofi · March 02, 2016, 09:11:21 AM

hence the expression 'to loose one's marbles'.

Pilgrim · March 02, 2016, 09:33:31 AM

Rube Goldberg lives!!